PALMER — With Paul Graveline, the town's part-time veterans' services officer, poised to retire next month, town leaders are now considering making the post a full-time job to handle the increasing caseload.

Town Manger Charles T. Blanchard said the state Department of Veterans' Services has recommended converting the job to either a full-time or regional position to keep up with the workload. Such a move would allow the town to have more coverage by increasing hours from roughly 16 hours per week to a more appropriate level, Blanchard said.

Charles BlanchardRepublican file photo

Graveline's job includes serving as burial agent and administering and distributing benefits to local veterans. He also is responsible for organizing the town's annual Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, among other duties.

Blanchard said the town so far has received applications from several qualified candidates, all of whom must have an associate's degree or equivalent experience in financial administration.

The town's current census puts Palmer's population at about 11,800 residents, with 12,000 generally being the level warranting a full-time veterans' agent, according to Blanchard. He plans to discuss the issue with state Department of Veterans' Services officials to see if the town "can get some leeway," he said.

"We did advertise (Graveline's job) as a part-time position, but we have to be aware that that may be a problem with the state," Blanchard said. "The caseload has gone up."

At-large Councilor Paul E. Burns, who has praised Graveline's performance as director of veterans' affairs, was surprised by the apparent need to increase the hours for the position. "It seems like a heck of a jump," he said.

Blanchard said a past analysis of entering into a regional veterans' services arrangement with other communities cost about the same as it would for Palmer to hire a full-time veterans' services officer. The current part-time job does not come with benefits and pays about $11,000 annually, though that amount would increase for a full-time position with possible benefits.

Graveline, a military veteran who lives in town, could not immediately be reached for comment. "He's really done a great job," Blanchard said.